By Mbongeni Ndlela
NHLANGANO – His Majesty King Mswati III has made a stirring pledge to the Nation: he will not rest until every liSwati has a job or a decent livelihood to rely on.
Speaking during a historic triple celebration — his 57th birthday, National Flag Day, and 39 years since ascending the throne — the King reignited the Nation’s hopes with a powerful message of empowerment and development. Thousands gathered in Nhlangano to witness the occasion, where His Majesty outlined a future built on hard work, compassion, and unity.
“We will not rest until every liSwati has a job to wake up to, or is able to make a livelihood,” declared the King to rousing applause. He emphasized that true national success will only be achieved when every citizen feels included in Eswatini’s journey to First World status.
The King called for even greater efforts in transforming the country’s human capital — its greatest resource — noting that while other nations rely on minerals, Eswatini’s strength lies in its people.
“For us to reach First World status, we must leverage our human resource capital and put more effort into everything we do,” he emphasized.
The King’s words were filled with compassion as he expressed special concern for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups. He assured the Nation that no one would be left behind in Eswatini’s development journey.
“We will ensure the elderly are housed in homes fit for occupation, and that persons with disabilities are given the support they need,” he said.
Reflecting on the country’s progress, His Majesty noted Eswatini’s remarkable economic growth. When he took the throne in 1986, the country’s GDP was E1.5 billion — today, it stands proudly at just under E100 billion.
This growth, he said, is a testament to the hard work of emaSwati, strong leadership, and international partnerships that continue to support the Kingdom’s aspirations.
Turning to national virtues, the King commended emaSwati for upholding peace, respect, and humility — values that not only sustain the country’s stability but also attract investment.
“Peace and stability are treasures that many take for granted, but they are the pillars of a prosperous Nation,” he said, urging citizens to teach these virtues to the next generation.
His Majesty also underscored Eswatini’s continued commitment to dialogue as a platform for national development.
“As we continue with our development aspirations, we shall continue to uphold dialogue as a foundation that builds our brighter future,” he affirmed.
In closing, His Majesty called upon all emaSwati to walk together on the path to prosperity, teaching loyalty, patriotism, and unity to the youth, while embracing the Kingdom’s transformation agenda with renewed strength and faith.
“If a Nation pleases God, that Nation touches the heart of God,” he said. “Let us ensure our plans align with our national mandate, so we can hasten the development of our beloved Kingdom.”
As the celebrations in Nhlangano came to a close, one message rang clear: His Majesty’s vision is of a Kingdom where every citizen thrives — and he will not rest until that dream becomes a reality.
